Collapsible and concealable reading rack



S. J; STAYBOLDT COLLAPSIBLE AND CONCEALABLE READING RACK Jan. 29, 1952 2 SI-lEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 9, 1950 m ui J INVENTOR.

1952 5. J. STAYBOLDT COLLAPSIBLE AND CONCEALABLE READING RACK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 9, 1950 INVENTOR,

Qvi.

Patented Jan. 29, 1952 "OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE AND ooNcEALABLE READING RACK Sven J. Stayboldt, Los Angeles, Calif. Application Marchil, 1950, serial No. 148,625

4 Claims.

1 i This invention relates to new and useful improvements in reading racks and more particularly to collapsible and. concealable reading racks and has for an object the provision of a rack that is light in weight, yet strong enough to support a heavy book thereby alleviating the usual fatigue caused by supporting a book with the hands. Another object is to provide a rack that will support reading matter for reference without impeding a persons hands for writing or other work.

Another object is to provide a rack of the above type adapted to be collapsed and hidden in the supporting member when said rack is not in use.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages which may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and features and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts, or the equivalents thereof, hereinafter described and claimed; and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a table with a gate opened showing the reading rack in the retracted position.'

Figure 2 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing the rack drawn from the table into an upright purposeful position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the table and the rack on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on a reduced scale through the table and the rack on line 4-4 of Fig. l but with the gate closed.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on a reduced scale on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the tubes illustrating certain grooves and notches formed in the tube.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the outer tubular shell, and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on line 99 of Fig. 6.

The reading rack may be attached to various articles of furniture such as a desk, etc.

The invention is shown attached to and beneath a table T having legs L and a gate G pivotedly mounted on the legs L by pin-s P which are concealed by wood filler or the like F.

Embodied in the invention and supporting the other parts thereof is a tubular outer shell I0 having its ends struck out to form attaching L wings ll provided with holes I2 for the insertion of screws I3 which secure the invention beneath the table T.

A slot 14 open at its forward end is provided in one Wall of the shell [0.

A screw 15 is inserted through the slot [4 and is threaded into an inner tube [6. The slot I4 permits the tube [6 carrying the screw to be moved forwardly through the shell but prevents the rotation of said tube due to the straightness of said slot.

A tube l'i covering the tube i6 is interposed between the shell llland the tube l6 and is moved with the tube I6 by the screw IS.

The tube I1 is a covering only for the slots and the notches in the tube l6 hereinafter described.

The tube IB is limited in its outward movement when the screw l5 contacts a hanger strap it which also serves to supportthe shell Ill beneath the table T as by the screws 20.

Another tube 2| having a solid core 22, terminating at its outer endin a knob K, is held within the tube I 6 by ascrew 23.

The rear end of the tube 2| is slotted at 24 to permit it to pass the screw l5.

The outer end of the screw 23 is positioned within a helical slot 25 provided through the wall of the tube I6.

The slot 25 terminates adjacent the forward end of the tube I6 in a plurality of notches 26.

A transverse .slot 21 is provided through the core 22 and is aligned with a slot 28 provided through the wall of the tube 2|.

Fitted into the slots 21 and 28 and secured therein by screws 29 are the brackets or legs 36 and 3E of an angle bar 32 and a flat plate 33 respectively.

An elongated block 34 is attached to the other leg of the angle bar 32 by screws 35 and the block 34 is likewise attached to the plate 33. by screws 35, thereby securing the bar 32, the plate 33 and the block 34 together as a unit.

A pair of spring wire clips 36 are pivotly mounted at one of their ends in the block 34 and are detained therein by a pivoted or bent over end 3'! located in a cavity 38 of said block.

The other ends of the clips- 36 are free to be turned to overlie the plate 33 as seen in Fig. 5 or to rest in cavities 3939 provided in edge of the I block 34. i p

A pair of slots 40 and 4| are provided at the "outer ends of the tubes l6 and I1 respectively and ,bene ath the table T and hidden from view by telescoping the several tubes and closing the gate G as seen in Fig. 4.

The gate G is detained in the closed position by a spring latch 42.

A finger-grip 43 is formed on the outer end of the tube 16.

A block B, inclined at its forward edge to facilitate the entrance of the plate 33 may be suitably attached to the underside of the table T to help support said plate.

It will now be apparent that the plate 33 con stitutes a rack for supporting reading matter and that the various tubes constitute sections of a telescopic arm for supporting the plate 33. The tube 2| with its solid core 22 comprises the rotatable section of the telescopic support for the plate 33.

When it is desired to use the rack the gate G is opened after depressing the latch 42, the finger-grip. is grasped and tube I6 is pulled toward the operator.

Because the screw I is fixed inthe tube 16 and is in contact with the inner end of the core 22, said core and the tube 21 carrying the plate 33 will be pulled forward with the tube it until the screw I5 contacts the hanger l9.

The knob K is then grasped and pulled toward the operator causing the screw 23 to climb in the helical slot 25 thereby rotating the tube 2| until the plate 33 is near to one of the positions shown in Fig. 2.

The operator then selects one of the positions for the plate 33 shown in Fig. 2 by engaging one or" the notches 26 with the screw 23 as seen in Fig. 7.

The curvature of the helical slot 25'is established so that the plate 33 is always horizontally 4. adapted to be mounted under a tabletop or the like for extension therefrom and retraction thereunder, a rack for supporting reading matter, a rack supporting arm including a stationary section adapted to be fixed beneath a table top or like article, an intermediate section adapted to be extended to one side of the table top and a rotatable section adapted to be extended to one side of the table top, said rotatable section adapted to be extended from said intermediate section, means attaching said rack to said rotatable section for turning therewith, said sections being collapsible to lie with the rack beneath the table top, said rack and said rotatable and intermediate sections being dimensioned and related so that when the intermediate section is extended the rack will be disposed to one side of disposed whenever the inner edge of said plate is adjacent the forward edge of the table thereby assuring an unobstructed exitor entrance of'said plate.

The legs 30 and. 3i enter the slots 40, ll and M as the rack is returned beneath the table -T.

It is understood that the drawings and description herein set .fcrthis not to be considered in a limiting sense but that various modificationsand changes may bemade in the parts and in the applicationand embodiments of the invention within the meaning of the terms of the appended claims and coming within the scope thereof without departing from thespirit-of theinvention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination. a table having a top and legs thereof, a rack for supporting reading matter, an arm for supporting the rack including telescopic sections one of which is rotatable. means attaching said rack to said rotatable section for turning therewith, means for mounting the arm beneath the table top'for movement of said rotatable section and rack from position beneath the top into position disposing .the rack to one side of the top, means operating when the rack is moved from beneath the top. during .extension of said rotatable section for-turning said section to disposethe rack in upright position and which turns said section to dispose the rack in horizontal position for retraction beneath thetable top while said section is being moved into a position beneath the top, and a gate pivoted to legs of the table for movement from position concealing the arm and rack, into open position affording access to and extension of said rotatable section and rack into position of use.

2. In a collapsible and concealable reading rack the table top and means operating responsive to extension of the rotatable section after extension of said intermediate section for turning said ro tatable section and moving said rack into upright position and which operates responsive to retraction of said rotatable section into said intermediate section while the latter is extended for turning said rotatable section and disposing said rack in a horizontal position subject to being extended beneath the table when the sections are retracted under the table top.

3. In combination, a table having a top and legs thereof, a rack for supporting reading mat ter, an arm for supporting the rack including telescopic sections one of which is rotatable, means attaching said rack to said rotatable section for turning therewith, means for mounting the arm beneath the table top for movement of said rotatable section and rack from position beneath the top into position disposing the rack to one side of the top, means operating when the rack is moved from beneath the top during extension of said rotatable section for turning said section to dispose the rack in upright position and which turns said section to dispose the rack in horizontal position for retraction beneath the table top while said section is being moved into a position beneath the top, and a gate ,pivoted to legs of the table for movement from position concealing the arm and rack, into open position affording access to and extension of said rotatable section and rack into position of use and a block mounted under the table' for contacting and supporting the rack in horizontal position beneath the table top.

4. In a collapsible and concealable reading rack adapted to be mounted under a table top or the like for extension therefrom and retraction thereunder, a rack for supporting reading matter, a rack supporting arm including a'stationary section adapted to be fixed beneath a table top or like article, an intermediate section adapted to be'extended to one side of the table top and a rotatable section adapted to be extended to one side of the table top, said rotatable section adapted to be extended from said intermediate section, means attaching said rack to said rotatable section for turning therewith, said sections being collapsible to lie with the rack beneaththe table top,'said rack and said rotatable and intermediate tion and moving said rack into uprightposition and which operates responsive to retraction of 5 said rotatable section into said intermediate section While the latter is extended for turning said rotatable section and disposing said rack in a horizontal position subject to being extended beneath the table when the sections are retracted under the table top, said means for attaching said rack to said rotatable section being in the form of a bracket which spaces the rack from the rotatable section to permit of collapsing of the rotatable section into the intermediate section,

said intermediate and stationary sections having slots therein in which the bracket is received when the sections are collapsed under the table.

SVEN J. STAYBOLDT.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 190,117 Boudeman May 1, 1877 828,507 Rollmann Aug. 14, 1906 1,976,034 Poetsch Oct. 9, 1934 1d 2,019 ,581 Probst Nov. 5, 1935 

